Early value setting mechanism



April 19, 1949. H. F. NOLLER ET AL EARLY VALUE SETTING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1946 ef r e m mm w April 9' H. F. NOLLERET AL 2,467,441

EARLY VALUE SETTING MECHANISM Filed April 17, 1946 f 4 Sheets-Sheet 2FlE-4 INVENTORS Mia/er f. NOLLER GEoRGE K/I'L R/V/ KENNETH F, Srou:

April 19, 1949. H. F. NOLLER ET AL EARLY VALUE SETTING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 17, 1946 s m." m E/T MU L 0U wNflF. NF M I KGApril 19, 1949.

Filed April 17, 1946 EARLY VALUE SETTING MECHANISM H. F. NOLLER ET AL 4Sheets-sheaf 4 INVENTORS HARRYF /VOLL ER 6mm K. HURN/ KENNETH F STONEPatented Apr. 19, 1949 EARLY VALUE SETTING MECHANISM Harry F. Noller,Berkeley, and George K. Hurni, Oakland, Calif and Kenneth F. Stone, LongBranch, N. J., assignors to Marchant Calculating Machine Company,acorporation of Balifornia Application April 17, 1946,,SeriaLNo. 662 32210 Claims. l

The present invention relates to calculating machines which are capableof automatically performing multiplication and division calculations,and particularly consists of selection con trol mechanism which isoperable immediately following initiation of a calculation, to maintainthe actuator setting in the condition in which it was set under controlof the depressed .keys of the keyboard, to suspend the control of thekeyboard over the actuator, and to clear the keyboard so thata factor ofa new calculation may be set on the keyboard while the machine is stillengaged in performing the previously initiated calculation.

This invention is disclosed as embodied in the commercially knownMarchant calculating machine shown and described in the Avery Patent No.2,271,240 and is shown as operable with the division mechanism of thatmachine, but the invention is applicable as well to multiplicationmechanism or any other calculating mechanism in which the factor orfactors of a calculation are set up on the keyboard and the calculationis initiated by depression of an initiating key.

Prior art calculating machines, such as that shown in the Dustin et a1.Patent No. 2,377,767,

'have'been provided with means for automatically clearing the divisorfrom the keyboard and selection mechanism asanincident to termination ofa division operation, for example, so as to render the selectionmechanism available for the introduction for new factors and thus savetime, but

automatic division operations frequently take such an amount of time,even in modern highspeed machines,thattheyinterrupt an operator'scontinuity of work; that is, it is necessary for the operator to Waitfor the termination of a division operation before he can proceed withsetting up a new factor.

The present machine on the other hand attains the objective ofpermitting the entry of a factor of a new calculation while the machineis engaged in performing the current calculation.

actuator.

'Itis, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to retainthesetting of a factor in a calculating machine throughout the operationthereof and at the same time-to render the selection keyboard availablefor setting up a-factor of anew calculation while the machine is stillengaged in performing a previously initiated calculation.

It is a further objectof the invention to automatically clear thekeyboard upon initiation of a calculation operation Without interferingwith the normal course of the machinecalculation.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide meansindependent of the selection mechanism for locking the actuatingmechanism in set condition upon initiation of a division operationsothat changes in the selection setting, whether accidental orintentional, are 'unable'to interfere with the division operation.

An additional object of the present invention is to suspend the effectof any keyboard setting upon the actuator mechanism of 'a calculatingmachine for the duration of a current division calculation and toautomatically render such a keyboard setting eifective to set theactuator mechanism as an incident to initiation of a new calculatingoperation.

Itjis a specific object of the present'invention to lock the actuatormechanism of a calculating machine in the set position established bythe setting of its selection mechanism for the duration of an initiateddivision operation, while automatically clearing the selection mechanismupon initiation of said operation.

It is'another specific object of the present invention to suspendtheeffect, upon the actuator mechanism, of any new selectionsetting, forthe duration of an initiated division operation, and

to au om i l y r nd r such newr el t on setting-effective to set theactuator mechanism upon initiation of anew calculation.

Other objects of thepresent invention will be appar n om the fo w ndetailed de cri ion of ,a preferredform of the invention, referencebeinghad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

,operatedby the setting clutch and employed ,in

transferring a keyboard selection to the actuator mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detailed View of ,part of .the selection mechanism shownin Figurel.

Figure 4 is a right side view of the auxiliary clutch and the mechanismresponsive to depression of the division key for controlling the clutch.

Figure 5 is a right side view of the selection locking mechanism andrelated control mechanism therefor.

Figure 6 is a right side view of part of the division mechanism of themachine embodying the present invention for comparing the divisor withthe dividend or remainder and controlling the disengagement of the mainclutch.

Figure 7 is a right side view illustrating the carriage dipping and risecontrolling mechanism.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the setting and auxiliary clutches and thecams driven by each.

Figure 9 is a right side view illustrating the mechanism forautomatically clearing the keyboard upon initiation of a divisionoperation.

Figure 10 is a right side view of the setting clutch and part of themechanism for controlling the same.

Figure 11 is a right side View of the main clutch and the mechanism forcausing engagement and disengagement thereof.

Manual selection mechanism The machine embodying the present inventionincludes a keyboard which is adapted to receive the entry of dividendand divisor factors, multiplicand factors, and items of addition andsubtraction calculations. This keyboard is composed of numeral keys I00(Fig. 1) which are arranged in a series of parallel banks ordenominational orders consisting of ten numeral keys in each order torepresent the numeral values zero to nine respectively. Each bank ofkeys is supported by a channel shaped frame IOI through which the keystems I03 of the various numeral keys are'slidably mounted.

A compression spring I02 is provided for each key to normally maintainthe same in raised position. [All of the key stems I03 are of the samelength, and each has a cam extrusion II6 Which upon depression of theassociated key cams a slotted key locking slide II'I toward the right asviewed in Figure 1. This locking slide is supported for sliding movementon the lower side of channel frame IOI by studs mounted on the frame.

When a numeral key stem has been depressed the cam extrusion H6 passesbeneath the slide and permits the same to return to its initial positionunder urge of spring H8, and by overlying the upper end of the extrusionII6, latches the depressed key in its depressed position. The setting ofanyvalue in a keyboard order or bank can be changed simply by depressinga different key in the same order. The depression of the second key camsthe locking slide toward the right as described above and thus releasesthe key which was previously depressed and latched down.

Disposed beneath the numeral keys I00 in each bank is a diiferentiallysettable selection bar I20, which is suspended from channel frame IN bymeans of two parallel links I28 and I29, freely pivoted on studs in theframe IOI, thus permitting endwise movement of the selection bar I20.This bar I20 has nine identical V-shaped notches I30, each of whichterminates in a slot I3I proportioned to receive the end of anassociated key stem I03 so ,that the bar I20 will be accuratelypositioned. The key stems I03 are spaced equal distances apart, andthese distances are slightly greater than the spacing between successiveslots I3I, so that each succeeding slot I3I will be spaced one incrementfurther away from its cooperating key stem. Depression of a numeral keywill therefore cam selection bar I20 to the right a number of incrementsequal to the value represented by the depressed key.

The right end of selection bar I20 lies adjacent a stud I63 (Fig. 3),mounted on a depending arm I30 of a segment lever I32 which is pivotallymounted on a transverse shaft I31. The upper end of lever I32 isprovided with a gear segment I38 which meshes with a pinion gear I45mounted for rotation with a check dial I00 on a stationary transverseshaft It I.

A torsion spring I42 (Fig. 1) is wound around the shaft I4I, with oneend of the spring connected to the frame of the machine and the other toa stud I03 on the check dial so as to urge the dial in acounterclockwise direction about shaft IllI. A zero stop E35, mounted onthe frame of the machine, blocks such spring urged counterclockwisemovement of the dial so that when none of the keys in a bank isdepressed the dial is rotated to its zero position by spring I42 andblocked in such position by the zero stop, and in so doing returns thegear segment lever I32 to the normal position shown. Upon return of thesegment the stud I03 thereof engages the end of the selection bar andreturns the latter to the position shown. When, however, a numeral keyis depressed and latched down as described above, the check dial I 40 isrotated to and maintained in the position indicative of the value of thekey depressed.

Power drive mechanism The machine embodying the present inventionderives its power from an electric motor and this motive power istransmitted to the various mechanisms within the machine by threeindependently operable clutches and mechanism driven by each. The firstof these clutches is termed the setting clutch, sometimes ref-erred toas a program clutch, which is operable in response to depression of acalculation initiating key to condition the machine for operation andcontrol the sequence of certain of the calculation operations. Thesecond clutch is termed the main clutch and drives the machine duringthe calculation operation, while the third clutch is termed the restoreclutch and is operable following operation of the main clutch to restorethe machine to a normal condition of rest. A fourth auxiliary clutchwhich constitutes a part of a novel mechanism of this invention will bedescribed later.

Differential actuator The numeral Wheels of the accumulator register aredriven by motive power through the main clutch mentioned above and whatis termed a continuous gear actuator shown and .described in the AveryPatent No. 2,271,240. The gears of this actuator are shifted to changethe speed ratio in accordance with a given selection by a power setselection mechanism which is operable under control of a series of camscomprising a selection cam unit I40 (Fig. 1) for each row of keys. Thesecam units are set by the keyboard of the machine disclosed in the lastmentioned patent and their setting corresponds at all times to the valueof the key depressed in the related keyboard order and also to the samevalue shown on the check dial for that order.

According to the present invention, however, the check dials are notdirectly connected to the associated selection cam units but instead thecam units and check dials are each set independgentl f the other so thatthe cam units can be set in accordance with one value to control theoperation of the machine while the check dials can be set by thekeyboard in accordance with a different value such as the value of afactor of the next calculation without effecting the operation of themachine. This independent setting of the selection cams is accomplishedby the following mechanism:

Power selection mechanism A second selection segment lever I33 (Fig. 1)is freely pivoted on the shaft I31 in each order and is rockableindependently of the first selection segment I32 described above. A gearsegment I39 is provided. on the lower end of lever I33 and meshes with agear I5I forming part of the selection cam unit I46 mentioned above.

The segments and cam units are set in accordance with the value set onthe keyboard by power operated mechanism driven by the setting clutch asfollows:

Selection bar 526 possesses a depending extension I2I which is providedwith a lateral stud I22. A link I8i is connected at its right end tosegment lever I33 by a stud I8I, while its free end is provided with aV-shaped notch 182 which is. positioned approximately underneath theabove mentioned stud I22 and has a central reoess adapted to receivesaid stud. The free end of link I88 rests upon a transverse rod i83sup-- ported by a, plurality of arms i134 which are secured to atransverse shaft I80 suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. Theupper end of a lever I65 is also pinned to this shaft Idil and the lowerend is connected to the left end of a link I86. The right end of thelatter link is pivoted to the lower end of a cam follower I81 (Fig. 2)which cooperates with a, cam I88 which is keyed on a sleeve 4cmjournaled on setting clutch shaft 43I.

' After the setting of the aforementioned manual selection mechanism hasbeen completed and upon depression of one of the operation control keysof the machine such as division key 910 (Fig. 4}), the setting clutch430 (Fig. is engaged as will be described hereinafter, and power derivedfrom the motor (not shown) is transmitted to setting, clutch shaft 43Iand its sleeve 43m. Consequent rotation of cam I88 (Fig. 2) pulls linkI86 toward the right and rocks supporting shaft I83 (Fig. 1) upwardly,pressing V-notch 532 of selection link I against stud I22 on selectionbar I26, which positions said link to correspond with the value ofwhatever numeral key Hill may have been depressed. Link its in turnpositions lower segment lever I33 accordingly, thus setting selectioncam unit I46 to represent the value selected by depression of a key.Upon further rotation of cam I88 beyond its lobe I88a, selection link I80 will return to its initial position under the influence of a springIQI, disengaging stud I22 of selection bar I253. By this time means,provided in accordance with the present invention, become operative tomaintain selection cam unit I45 in the position of adjustmentestablished by the abovecam I88, as will be described hereinafter.

Power. setting of actuator As soon as. the cam units I45 are set inaccordance with the manual setting of the keyboard, poweroperatedmechanism is brought into play tosense the setting of the cam units andto shift the gears of the actuator sothat. the latter will transmit tothe accumulator register increments of movement which are proportionalto the value originally set on the keyboard.

Each such cam unit comprises the previously mentioned gear I5! and fivecams, one of which is shown in Fig. 1 and identified as cam I52. Eachone of the cams has two high points I68 and two low points IGI on itsperiphery, the cams being so staggered that no high or low point on onecam is aligned with a high or low point on another cam. The various camsof cam unit I45 are so arranged that with a numeral key depressed,movement of segment I39 in response to operation of link I83 will rotatethe cam unit I46 to a position in which one of the high points of one ofthe cams will be located in the path of a finger 2i i of one of a set offive feeler arms 2I0 on one side of the cam unit I45 or in the path of afinger 259 of one of another set of five feeler arms 2I1 on the oppositeside of the unit I46.

Keyed on the above mentioned setting shaft sleeve 435a is also a pair ofcomplementary cams are and 221 (Fig. 1) and an associated cam follower224, freely pivoted on a cross rod 225 and provided with a roller 222 inengagement with cam 223 and a second roller 223 in engagement with cam5225. As the cams rotate, the cam follower 224 is rockedcounterclockwise early in the cycle to retract the ieeler fingers 2IIand M9 from the selection cam units M5 to permit the setting of thelatter by the Power selection mechanism" described hereinbefore. Afterthe selection cams are so set, the cams 220 and 22I rock the camfollower 224 in a clockwise direction which then moves the feelerfingers 2| I and H9 against the peripheries of their corresponding camsat points substantially diametrically opposite one another by mechanismdisclosed in said Avery Patent No. 2,271,240.

As pointed out hereinbefore each of the cam units !46 is so designedthat only one of the associated pairs of fingers is in engagement withthe high or low point of a cam at any one setting of the numeral keysI66 in the respective denominational order of the keyboard. Thus, one ofthe feeler arms 2m in each order Will be rocked at a considerable angleabout its supporting shaft 2I3 to one side or the other of a medialposition depending on whether its finger 2 is in engagement with a highpoint I or low point IGI of its corresponding cam while all of the otherfeeler arms in that order will be held in a medial position. Cams 220and 22I make one half a revolution during the cycle, after which theopposite lobes of the cams come to the positions shown in Fig. 1 andretain the feeler fingers against the cam units throughout the remainderof the division operation and thus act to maintain the selection camunits in the position in which they were set by the power selectionmechanism. Seg ments $33 will likewise be held in set position which isessential to the proper performance of a division operation because itis the position of these segments that ultimately determines thecharacteristic position of the sensing shelves 900 (Fig. 6).

Each of the feeler arms 2I0 is connected through a stud and slotconnection 206 with one of five selection plates such as plate I12 whichis rotatable about a transverse shaft I10. Plate I12 carries a set ofgears I13 and I14, the latter meshing with a laminated gear I89 mountedon a keyed bushing I59. From the above it will be seen that four of eachgroup of five selection plates will be held in their medial positionswhile the 7 fifth will be moved forward or rearward until the lowermostgear I13 thereon meshes with an aligned gear I15 on a shaft I66 or analigned gear I16 on a shaft I61, said gears and shafts comprising theactuator unit of the machine disclosed in the Avery Patent No.2,271,240.

Gear I75 is one of a group of four gears keyed on shaft I66 in eachorder and adapted to enmesh with the aligned gears on respective ones ofthe selection plates upon movement of the latter toward the left.Similarly, gear I16 is one of a group of five gears mounted on shaft H57in each order and adapted to enmesh with aligned gears on respectiveones of the five selection plates upon movement of the same toward theright.

The shafts I66, I61, and also a third shaft I68 are connected to acyclically operable main clutch 428 (Fig. 11) through gear trainsdisclosed in detail in the aforementioned Avery Patent No. 2,271,240,the arrangement being such that shaft I66 (Fig. 1) otherwise known asthe half-turn shaft rotates through 180 degrees for each cycle ofoperation of clutch 428 and shaft I81 (quarterturn shaft) rotatesthrough 90 degrees for each cycle of said clutch while shaft I68(twelfthturn shaft) moves through only 30 degrees for each cyclethereof. For the purpose of the instant description and its relation tothe present invention, it is sufficient to understand that the variousgears in each order of the actuator are shifted in and out of mesh withthe gears on the half, quarter, and twelfth-turn shafts, so that foreach main clutch cycle the gear I 89 in a given order will be rotated anumber of increments corresponding to the value of whatever numeral keyI determined the setting of the selection plates in the particularorder.

Selection lockin mechanism Means are provided for locking the selectionplates H2 in any one of their three positions; said means comprises alocking bail 236 (Fig. 1) which extends across all orders of theactuator-selection unit and is pivoted at 231. This bail is connected bymeans of a link 528 to a cam follower 529 (Fig. 5) having rollers 53K!and 53! which engage two respective complementary cams 52B and 521secured to the above mentioned setting sleeve 43m. During the settingclutch operation described in the aforementioned Avery patent these camsare rotated through an angle of 180 degrees and in the first part of theoperating cycle, they rock the locking bail downwardly so the selectionplates I72 and their gears may be shifted, and then during the latterpart of the cycle, they rock the bail up again to lock the plates in theposition to which they were shifted by the power setting mechanism whichoperates during the middle of the setting clutch cycle.

Automatic keyboard clearing mechanism After the foregoing mechanismshave operated to set and lock the selection cam units and the actuatorselection plates in accordance with the factor set on the keyboard, thelatter is cleared to enable the setting of a new factor thereon duringthe process of division. The keyboard is cleared as an incident tooperation of the mechanism which causes engagement of the main clutch atthe beginning of a division calculation as follows:

As described in the aforementioned Avery Patent No. 2,271,240, a cam M?(Fig. 11), mounted on the setting shaft 43L rocks a cam follower I46counterclockwise abouta shaft 5M. An in- 8 terponent 603 is mounted onthe cam follower and when the latter is actuated by the cam, a shoulder(SIS of the interponent engages a hook 6I6 on the main clutch dog 3% androcks the same to clutch engaging position during the latter part of thefirst settin clutch cycle. A link M8 also described in the lastmentioned patent is provided to actuate the keyboard clearing mechanismduring addition and subtraction calculations. This link connects the camfollower 746 to a lever I50 (Fig. 11) fixed to one end of a shaft 152.The other end of this shaft carries a lever TM (Fig. 9) which is adaptedto engage an ear 716 formed on a link 679 when said link is lowered andthe ear is positioned in the path of the lever 114. The link 179 isnormally held in a raised position by a spring 183 but is lowered bydepression of the plus or minus key of the machine disclosed in the lastmentioned patent to cause actuation of the keyboard clear bail I25 whichis freely pivoted on a shaft I25 and connected to the left end of link'i'iii at 'liii, said link being lowered during addition and subtractionoperation by a link SH also described in the same patent.

Means are provided in accordance with the present invention to alsolower the link T19 upon depression of the division key as well as by theplus or minus key. This is accomplished by mounting an interponent 198on the right end of link 7'59 by means of a stud HM and enlarging theaperture list to permit the division key to lower the link withoutactuating the add and subtract key link 8H. The interponent 190 isfreely pivoted about the stud FBI and a spring I92 urges the interponentclockwise into the position shown where it lies under an ear 793 of thedivision key so that upon depression of said key the link will be rockeddownwardly and the ear H6 positioned in the path of lever I14.

When the lever lid is rocked by the linkage described above during thefirst setting clutch cycle and moves the link I79 toward the left toclear the keyboard, the interponent I slides from under the car 193 ofthe division key and permits the spring 783 to raise the link I19. Thismoves the ear lit above and out of the path of lever lid so thatsubsequent rockin of the same during the repeated operation of thesetting clutch in the current division calculation will not clear thekeyboard again and destroy the setting of the factor of the nextcalculation.

When the division key rises at the end of division the ear 793 on thekey stem will engage the side of the interponent 7951 which hadpreviously risen and the spring 792 will yield to permit the key to rockthe interponent counterclockwise about the stud lQI as the ear I93slides along the side of the interponent. When the key has fully risenthe ear E93 will pass above the interponent whereupon the spring 5'92will rock the latter clockwise to the position shown where it underliesthe ear "I93 and may be again engaged by the division key upondepression thereof for initiating the next calculation.

Automatic division mechanism The sequence of operations involved inautomatic division on machines of the type employed to illustrate thepresent invention is described in detail in the aforementioned AveryPatent No. 2,271,240 and will only be briefly outlined here. Depressionof the division key 970 (Fig. 4) causes engagement of the setting clutch430 (Fig. 10). This clutch drives a plurality of setting cams whichaffect various operations, some of which were described hereinbefore, tocondition the machine for the actual division operation. Theseoperations include the following: (1) unlocking of the previouslymentioned actuator plates I12 by retraction of locking bail 236; (2)sensing of the position of the selection cam units lot by feeler arms218 and 2!! and setting of the actuator plate I12 accordingly; (3)returning bail 238 to locking position; (4) dipping of the carriage toenmesh the register drive gears 2'll (Fig. 1) in each order of theregister with the respective actuator gears 89: (5) adjusting the mainreverse unit between the main clutch and the actuator shafts fornegative operation; and (6) initiating operation of the main clutch.

In addition to these operations, the setting clutch causes specificdivision mechanisms to move into operative positions such as a divisionbail 991 (Fig. 6) and sensing shelves 9% which are normally withdrawnfrom operative positions forreasons which will be briefly referred tohereinafter. The first setting clutch cycle is followed by multicyclicoperation of the main clutch which drives the actuator at such speeds asto subtract the divisor from the dividend once during each cycle of themain clutch.

Operation of the main clutch in a particular order is automaticallystopped as soon as the effective dividend is reduced to a value belowthat of the divisor, the procedure being briefly as follows: Thedecreasing value of each digit of the effective dividend or remainder isrepresented by the position of a cam follower finger I649 (Fig. 6) whichis lowered by cooperation with a cam 28! attached to the respectiveaccumulator dial 219. The value of each digit of the divisor introducedinto the machine is represented by the position of a pivot Silt. onwhich is mounted sensing shelf 9M. The position of pivot SM isdetermined by the position of selection segment 133 which for thisreason is held in set position for the duration of the divisionoperation. One end of the above mentioned sensing shelf ti t) cooperateswith the feeler finger [M9, in the associated order, while the other endblocks spring-urged movement of a division control member, namely thepreviously mentioned division bail Gill. As cam follower finger iii-ii!is lowered by rotating snail cam it presses down against the sensingshelf Silt! rocking the shelf clockwise about the pivot 9&2 until itsblocking end 996 releases the division bail Sill which then is free tomove clockwise under the influence of its spring 944. This movementoperates a train of levers which releases a latch 532' (Fig. 11) fromunderneath the main clutch dog 395', thus bringing about termination ofthe main clutch operation. This in turn initiates operation of therestore clutch (Fig. '7) by a mechanism described in detail in therepeatedly mentioned Avery patent.

Operation of the restore clutch disables the latches 515 which retainsthe carriage in dipped position throughout the main clutch operation andat the same time operates cams 585 controllingthe rate of return of thecarriage to the position shown in Fig. 7 under the influence of a spring559 and other springs in the itself. The restore clutch also operatesmechanism which determines whether an overdraft hasioccurred or not andthen causes ire-engage .ment'of the setting clutch. Follows a secondsetting clutch cycle and depending upon whether driving the actuators inpositive direction to correct the overdraft. This cycle in turn isfollowed by a second restore clutch cycle in the particular order. Incase that no overdraft has occurred, the arrangement is such that thesecond setting clutch cycle is directly followed by the above mentionedsecond restore clutch cycle. In both instances, this restore clutchcycle will operate to raise the carriage and initiate a single stepcarriage shift to the left which in turn conditions the machine tocommence a new sequence of division operations in the new denominationalorder.

As described in the above mentioned Avery patent, movement of thecarriage into its leftmost position establishes conditions which enablethe first subsequent restore clutch operation to unlatch the divisionkey 910 and to enable the same to rise under influence of a spring l8lll(Fig. 4) and the linkage connecting the spring to the key. In its raisedposition the key establishes conditions that cause termination of thedivision operation in the particular order upon operation of the restoreclutch through the subsequent cycle. Analogous conditions prevailwhenever the division key is unlatched by depression of a stop keyusually provided in machines of the type under discussion to terminatedivision in any order.

Repeat operation and single operation setting cams Reverting to thesetting clutch and cams of the machine embodying the present invention,it will be noted that the setting operations fall in two classes:

(1) Those which must occur repeatedly throughout a division calculation.such as that effected by the cam 514 (Fig. 7) for dippin the carria efollowing each ordinal shift, and by cam M7 (Fig. 11) for causingre-engagement of the main clutch. and others;

(2) Those which are necessary only at the beginning of each divisioncalculation. such as the selection setting earns 22!! and 22! (Fig. 1)for setting the actuator, and the actuator locking cams 526 and 521(Fig. 5). and others.

Prior to this invention both classes of setting operations describedabove have been carried. on together by repeated setting clutchoperations described in the aforementioned Avery Patent No. 2.271.,240.The present invention. however, provides means which will effectrepeated setting operations of the first class but prevents suchrepeated operations of the second class during the successive operationsof the setting clutch affected in the process of division, therebyconsiderably reducing the noise, wear, and operating load of themachine.

This is accomplished by mounting the cams which may be called singleoperation setting cams, on the sleeve 431a mentioned hereinbefore, andmounting the cams which may be called repeat operation setting cams onthe setting clutch shaft 45, and by providing an auxiliary clutch whichdrives the sleeve 43|a and its cams. The auxiliary clutch normallycouples the setting shaft to the sleeve so that during the firstoperation of the setting clutch, both the single operation 'and'therepeat operation cams are driven together and condition the machine fora calculation operation. If this operation is initiated by the divisionkey, the latter causes disengagement of the auxiliary clutch at the endof its first cycle so that during the subsequent repeated operations ofthe setting clutch and its cams, the single operation cams will bestationary.

According to the present invention the various cams described above, asbeing mounted on the sleeve 4am and driven by the auxiliary clutch, areof such shape and arranged in such timed relation to each other thatupon rotation of the auxiliary clutch during the first setting clutchcycle the cams perform their respective functions in the followingsequence:

(1) Complementary cams 525 and 521 (Fig. retract the locking bail 236(Fig. 1).

(2) Complementary cams 220 and 22! retract the feeler fingers 2H and 2I9from engagement with the selection cam units I46 to permit the settingof the latter.

(3) Cam I88 (Fig. 2) actuates link I80 (Fig. 1) and sets the selectioncam units I46 in each order.

(4) Cams 220 and HI then return the feeler fingers to sensing positionand set the actuator accordingly.

(5) Cams 525 and 521 return the locking bail 236 to the position shownin Fig. 1, thereby locking the actuator selection plates in thepositions to which they were set by cams 220, Ml, item (4) above.

The cams which are secured to the setting clutch shaft 43I and operateat successive stages of the division operation, include:

(1) Cam 514 (Fig. 7) which dips the carriage to enmesh the registergears 21I with the actuator gears I89.

(2) Cam 141 (Fig. 11) causes engagement of the main clutch 428.

In addition to the above described repeat operation cams, the Marchantcalculating machine includes other cams with which we are not concerned,such as cams which are driven by the setting clutch for setting the mainreverse unit and enabling certain division mechanisms. Since the lattercams and the operations which they aiTect are not altered by the presentinvention they are not shown or described herein but may be seen uponreference to the aforementioned Avery Patent No. 2,271,240.

The Marchant calculating machine, in which the present invention isembodied. has a multiplication mechanism of what is known as theinstantaneous type which starts immediately upon depression of amultiplier numeral key. Themachine has no way of knowing if the keydepressed represents the first, last, or intermediate digit of themultiplier factor and consequently all setting operations must occureach time. As stated in the introduction of this specification, thepresent invention is applicable to multiplication as well as todivision. It may now be more clearly seen that the invention is soapplicable to multiplication if the machine in- Auxiliary clutch Theauxiliary clutch I380 (Figs. 4' and 8) described only generallyhereinbefore includes a clutch disc tBI which is integral with thesleeve 43m and a clutch ratchet 482 which is integral with the settingshaft 43 I This clutch is a halfrevolution clutch and therefore includestwo pawls 483 and 484 (Fig. 4) pivotally mounted on studs M35 and 486respectively, carried on the clutch disc 48L Each pawl is spring-urgedinto engagement with one of two teeth of the ratchet 482 so thatnormally the disc, sleeve and its single operation cams are driven byand with the setting clutch shaft and its ratchet 482.

A clutch control dog l81 (Fig. 4) is held away from the auxiliary clutchwhen the machine is in the normal condition of rest so that the clutchwill be in the engaged condition shown and, therefore, rotate with thesetting shaft during its initial operation. If the machine operation isinitiated by the division key, the clutch control dog is released androcked counterclockwise under the urge of a spring 4810 until it isblocked by the periphery of the clutch disc 48L When the auxiliaryclutch has nearly completed its cycle (a half revolution), the nose ofone of the pawls 483 or 4'84 is blocked by the ear 481a and rocked outof engagement with the tooth of the ratchet 482. At the same time, thetail of this dog engages the nose of the other dog, thereby rocking thelatter out of engagement with the second tooth of the ratchet, and thuscausing complete disengagement of the clutch. The clutch is held in thisdisengaged condition until the division key rises at the end of adivision calculation, whereupon the clutch control dog is rockedoutwardly to the position shown to permit re-engagement of the auxiliaryclutch preparatory to the next calculation.

Auxiliary clutch control mechanism As stated briefly hereinbefore, thesingle operation cams are normally coupled to the setting clutch shaftby the auxiliary clutch and operate with the setting clutch duringmultiplication by each multiplier digit. They also operate in this wayin addition and subtraction and during the first setting clutch cycle indivision calculation, but are disabled by disengagement of the auxiliaryclutch during all subsequent setting clutch operations in division forthe reasons set forth hereinbefore. This clutch disengagement is broughtabout by depression of the division key which adjusts certain mechanismsas follows:

The division key 910 (Fig. 4) is mounted on two parallel links 912 and913, the latter of which includes an ear 980' which is moved upwardlyand toward the left when the division key is depressed and is held insuch position by a latch 982 thereby maintaining the division key indepressed position throughout the division calculation. A link 965connects a downwardly extending arm of link 913 to a bell crank I026secured to shaft I256 which is rocked clockwise upon depression of thedivision key through the above described above described mechanism so asto disable themanual shift control mechanism which includes the linkI483. it depresses the shelf H361) and rocks the lever I136 downwardlyor clockwise about its pivot When the stud I483a is lowered t'O' therightv of tooth I129.

13 flie and in "so 'doin'g' moves a stud l'l36a, mounted on the rightend of lever I136, downwardly "andfiom beneath a nose 48113 of theaforemen- "tion'ed auxiliary clutch control dog 48? to permit the latterto rock to clutch disengaging position described above.

The depression of the division key also moves a link 5' (Fig-)downwardly by mechanism described in the last mentioned Avery patent,and rocks'the setting clutch control dog 354 counterclockwise to causeengagement of the setting clutch 430 which drives the auxiliary clutch480 (Fig. 4-) through a half revolution after which the latter clutch isdisengaged as described under thesection heading Auxiliary clutch. Sincethe division key is held down throughout the entire divisioncalculation, the auxiliary clutch control dog 48'! remains in its clutchdisengaging position so that subsequent operations of the setting clutchare ineffective to drive the auxn whatis known as the second settingclutch cycle in-the terminating order of division. It is necessa'ry'toprevent such operation of the auxiliary clutch so as to preventresetting of the actuator in accordance with the new factor set upon thekeyboard if such setting has been made during the division calculation.This prevention is necsary to avoid an erroneous result in case anoverdraft has occurred in the last order, which would require a finalcorrective main clutch cycle following the second setting clutch cycle.

As previously explained, division key 97!) is operatively connected to ashaft I256 so that upon depression of the key the shaft I255 is rockedclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 against the force of a restore spring4808' connected between the machine frame and an ear on lever [304secured to shaft I256. To delay restoration of the division key afterrelease of latch 982 during the first restore clutch cycle in theterminating order of division, a member H22 (Fig. 7) is pro-- vided, theupper fork of which has a tooth H253 adapted to engage an ear I802 oflever wil and to control the latter in a manner described in detail inBoyden Patent No. 2,393,018 dated J anuary 15, 1946, to which referencemay be had for a detailed description of the mechanism not specificallydescribed herein. Member I T22 is pivotally mounted on a link Hi3 bymeans of a stud H23 and is provided with a spring 125 tensioned betweena tail of the member and a machine frame stud so as to constrain memberI lZ-Zto-rock counterclockwise about its pivot N23. The lower end oflink I753 is pivotally connected, by astud I124, to an arm H25 pivotallymounted on the frame of the machine at me, while the upper end of link|1l3 is pivotally connected to an arm I H4 fixed to a shaft 6!!!! whichis rocked counterclockwise by the carriage dipping mech-- anism duringeach setting clutch cycle and clockwise during each restore clutch cycleas described indetail in the aforementioned Avery Patent No. 2,271,240.The latching tooth I129 (Fig. '7) is so positioned that-when thedivision key 919 is held in depressed position by latch 982, ear 1802stands When latch 982 is released a limited amount of upward movement ofkey 979 is permitted to prevent re-engagement of latch 982, but latchingtooth I129 prevents any appreciable counterclockwise movement of levertiltso that link i136 (Fig. 4) is unable to rise suhiciently to causerte-engagement of the auxiliary clutch.

As the carriage is dipped during the middle part of the second settingclutch cycle by opertion of the setting cam 514 (Fig. 7) the link H13and member I122 are moved toward the left as viewed in Fig. '7 therebypermitting the lever [804 and shaft I256 to gradually rockcounterclockwise'under urge of the spring I86! and thus cause thedivision key to rise. Near the end of the leftward movement of link H22a camming surface I'M!) engages a frame stud I'Mfla which rocks themember I122 upwardly to completely release the lever i894 from restraintof the latching tooth H29 so that the carriage may again rise during thelast restore clutch cycle and the memher [122 may return to the positionshown without engaging the car 1802 and rocking lever I884 with it.

The counterclockwise rocking of shaft I255 described above move thelinks M76 and 483 (Fig. 4) upwardly and the consequent upward movementof stud Mesa carried by the latter link permits the sprir 5-82 to pullthe link H36 upwardly and to rock the auxi ry clutch control dog toclutch engaging pos. ..on shown. The clutch pawls 483 lit; are then freeto rock inwardly under spring pressure, and upon completion of thesecond and last setting clutch cycle in the terminating order ofdivision, the teeth of the ratchet 68:! come to a stop in the positionshown, in engagement with the pawls 583 and 434 and in condition todrive the same and the auxiliary clutch cams upon initiation of the nextcalculation.

Summary Calculating machines which are capable of performingcalculations automatically include mechanisms for causing repeatedoperation both for conditioning the machine for calculation and foractually performing the calculations in the successive denominationalorders. Some of the conditioning mechanisms must operate repeatedly butothers need be operated only at the beginning of multi-crdercalculation. The present invention described hereinbefore providesmechanism for effecting all necessary conditioning operations at thebeginning of the calculation and then suspends operation of all suchconditioning mechanism not needed throughout the rest of thecalculation, but permits the operation of all hose which are needed inor before the calculations in. each denominational order.

Machines of the class described, enter or transfer the dividend from thekeyboard to the accumulator in a well-known manner, after which thedivisor is set up on the keyboard. Upon depression of a calculationinitiating key this factor is transferred to or set in part of thecalculation control mechanism by a power selection mechanism driven by asetting clutch and is retained therein to control the calculationoperations of the machine. The actuator is set by a power settingmechanism also driven by the setting clutch in accordance with the valueof the factor set on the keyboard and is thus effective to control thepositive or negative entry of the selected numeral value into theaccumulator, In division calculation, the divisor is constant throughoutthe calculation and therefore when the division key is depressed toinitiate the calculation, this key is effective, in the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated, to disconnect the setting clutch from thepower selection and actuator setting mechanism and the locking mechanism, so that subsequent recurring operations of the setting clutchduring the process of division will not unnecessarily and repeatedlyoperate these mechanisms. This disconnection is in the form of anauxiliary clutch which is normally engaged so as to transmit power fromthe setting clutch to the cam which operates the above mechanism, andwhich is disengaged at the end of the first setting clutch cycle so asto thereafter suspend operation of these mechanisms. After the selectionand actuator mechanisms are set and locked, the keyboard is thenautomatically cleared and disconnected from the other mecha" nisms topermit the setting of a new factor on the keyboard without effecting thecurrent calculation operations of the machine.

The division key is latched down throughout a division calculation andtherefore the auxiliary clutch is held disengaged throughout thatcalculation. The division key latch may be tripped at any stage of thedivision calculation by depression of a stop key, provided in themachine embodying the present invention, whereupon the division key willbe permitted to rise at the proper time by subsequent operation of anautomatic division key releasing means, to thereby terminate thedivision upon completion of the operation in the current order; or, thelatch is tripped automatically upon movement of the carriage into itsextreme end position, whereupon the division key rises and stops thedivision mechanism upon completion of the operation in the last order.

When the division key rises either following depression of the stop keyor following movement of the carriage into the end position, theauxiliary clutch control dog is moved to clutch engaging position andthe auxiliary clutch becomes engaged at the end of the last settingclutch cycle. The machine thereafter comes to a stop without operationof the auxiliary clutch but the latter is in condition to transmit powerfrom the setting clutch to the power selection mechanism and actuatorsetting and locking mechanisms during the first cycle of the settingclutch in the next calculation regardless of What kind of calculation itis.

We claim:

1. In a calculating machine having a register, an actuator therefor, anda keyboard settable to represent a selected numeral value, a cyclicclutch, power selection mechanism controlled by the keyboard andoperated by the clutch to adjust the actuator in accordance with thesetting of the keyboard, and a device driven by said clutch and having alocking phase of operation during which it locks the actuators in theposition to which the same was adjusted by said power selectionmechanism and having an unlocking phase of operation during which itunlocks said actuator; the combination of, a manually settable key forinitiating a machine operation including recurring cycles of operationof said clutch, with means jointly responsive to said key upon settingthereof and to said clutch upon operation thereof through the first ofsaid recurring cycles for suspending operation of the power selectionmechanism and suspending operation of said device through its unlockingphase by said clutch during subsequent recurring cycles of operationthereof.

2. In a calculating machine having conditioning mechanism operable tocondition the machine for calculation operations, and a cyclic clutchoperable through recurring cycles of operation during the calculationoperations; the combination of, an auxiliary clutch operable uponengagement thereof to enable operation of the conditioning mechanism bysaid cyclis clutch and effective upon disengagement thereof to suspendoperation of the conditioning mechanism by the cyclic clutch, a manuallyadjustable key for initiating a machine operation including saidrecurring cyclic operation of the cyclic clutch, and a device responsiveto adjustment of the key for disengaging said auxiliary clutch uponoperation of the cyclic clutch through the first of its recurring cyclesof operation, with a device operable to terminate the operation of themachine, and means responsive to operation of said terminating devicefor causing re--enga-gement of said auxiliary clutch during the last ofsaid recurring cycles of operation of the cyclic clutch.

3. In a calculating machine having a register, a differential actuatortherefor, a factor receiving device adjustable in accordance with thenumeral value of a factor received, and setting means operable to setthe actuator in accordance with the adjustment of said receiving device;the combination of a cyclic clutch for operating said setting means asaforesaid, means for suspending operation of the setting means by saidclutch, a manually adjustable key for initiating a machine operationincluding recurring cycles of operation of said cyclic clutch, and meansresponsive to adjustment of said key and operable during the first ofsaid recurring cycles of said clutch for causing operation of saidsuspending means, with a device operable to terminate said machinoperation, and means responsive to said terminating device and operableduring the last of said recurring cycles of the clutch to disable saidsuspending means.

4. In a calculating machine having selection mechanism settable torepresent various numeral values, a register, motor drive means,diiferential actuators controlled by the selection mechanism andoperable by the motor drive means to actuate said register, and aprogram clutch intermittently operable through recurring cycles to causerecurring operations of the actuators during a plural order calculation;the combination of, a normally engaged auxiliary clutch operabl by andwith the program clutch and capable of disengagement to suspendoperation of the auxiliary clutch with the program clutch during certainof said recurring cycles of the latter, a key for initiating operationof the program clutch, and means controlled by said key for disengagingthe auxiliary clutch during the first of said recurring cycles of theprogram clutch, with control mechanism for the actuators including a twophase device driven by the auxiliary clutch and operable in the firstphase of said device to connect the actuators to the selection mechanismto cause the latter to adjust the actuators and operable in the secondphase of said device to disconnect the actuators from the selectionmechanism.

5. In a calculating machine having selection mechanism settable torepresent various numeral values, a register, motor drive means,differential said register, and a program clutch intermittently operablethrough recurring cycles to cause recurring operations of the actuatorsduring a plural order calculation; the combination of, a normallyengaged auxiliary clutch cyclically operable by and with the programclutch and capable of disengagement to suspend operation of theauxiliary clutch with the program clutch during certain of the recurringcycles of the latter, control mechanism for the actuators including acyclically operable device driven through two phases of each cyclethereof by the auxiliary clutch during a single cycle of the latter andoperable in the first phase of a cycle to connect the actuators to theselection mechanism to cause the latter to adjust the actuators andoperable in the second phase of the same cycle to disconnect theactuators from the selection mechanism, a key for initiating operationof the program clutch, and means controlled by said key for disengagingthe auxiliary clutch during the first of said recurring cycles of theprogram clutch.

6. In a motor driven calculating machine having selection mechanismsettable to represent various numeral values, a register, selectivelyadjustable differential actuators therefor, a main clutch efiective uponengagement thereof to drive the actuators, and a program clutchintermittently operable through recurring single cycles of operation tocause recurring engagement of the main clutch during -a plural ordercalculation; a normally engaged auxiliary clutch which when so engagedis coupled to the program clutch and operable therewith and capable ofdisengagement to suspend operation of the auxiliary clutch duringsubsequent cycles of the program clutch, control mechanism for theactuators including a device driven through two phases of operation bythe auxiliary clutch and operable in its first phase to connect theactuators to the selection mechanism to cause the latter to adjust theactuators and operable in its second phase to disconnect the actuatorsfrom the selection mechanism, a key for initiating operation of theprogram clutch, and means controlled by said key for disengaging theauxiliary clutch at the end of the first of said recurring cycles of theprogram clutch to suspend operation of said device during subsequentcycles of the latter clutch.

7. In a motor driven calculating machine having selection mechanismsettable to represent selected numeral values, a register, selectivelyadjustable differential actuators therefor, motor operated drive meansfor said actuators, a pro gram clutch intermittently operable through recurring cycles to cause recurring operations of the actuator drive meansduring a plural order calculation, and a cyclically operable auxiliaryclutch; the combination of, actuator control means including a two phasedevice driven by the auxiliary clutch and operable during the firstphase of said device to connect the actuators to the selection mechanismto cause the latter to adjust the actuators and operable in the secondphase of said device to disconnect the actuators from the selection.mechanism, means also driven by the auxiliary clutch and renderedeffective to lock the actuators in adjusted condition after adjustmentthereof by the selection mechanism and before disconnection of theactuators from the selection mechanism by said control means, numeralkeys for resetting the selection mechanism, a key for initiatingoperation of the program and auxiliary clutches, and means controlled bythe initiating key to cause disengagement of the auxiliary clutch at theend of its first cycle and prevent operation thereof during 18 thesubsequent recur-ring cycles of the program clutch.

8. In a motor driven calculating machine having selection mechanismsettable to represent selected numeral values, a register, selectivelyadjustable differential actuators therefor, motor operated drive meansfor said actuators, a program clutch intermittently operable throughrecurring cycles to cause recurring operations of the actuator drivemeans during a plural order calculation, and a cyclically operableauxiliary clutch; the combination of, actuator control means including atwo phase device driven by the auxiliary clutch and operable during thefirst phase of said device to connect the actuators to the selectionmechanism to cause the latter to adjust the actuators and operable inthe second phase of said device to disconnect the actuators from theselection mechanism, means also driven by the auxiliary clutch andrendered efiective to lock the actuators in adjusted condition afteradjustment thereof by the selection mechanism and before disconnectionof the actuators from the selection mechanism, numeral keys forresetting the selection mechanism, a key for initiating operation of theprogram and auxiliary clutches, and means controlled by the initiatingkey to cause disengagement of the auxiliary clutch at the end of itsfirst cycle and thereby render the selection mechanism inefiective tochange the adjustment of the actuators during the subsequent recurringcycles of the program clutch.

9. In a calculating machine having a keyboard settable to represent aselected numeral value, a register, an actuator selectively adjustableunder control of said keyboard to actuate said register, and a cyclicclutch; the combination of, a device driven by said clutch and having afirst phase of operation during which it connects the actuators to thekeyboard to cause the latter to adjust the actuator and having a secondphase of operation during which it disconnects the actuator from thekeyboard, keyboard clearing mechanism, and a member driven by saidclutch in such timed relation to said device as to cause operation ofsaid clearing mechanism after operation of said device through itssecond phase, with a manually settable key for initiating a machineoperation including recurring cycles of operation of said clutch, meansjointly responsive to said key upon setting thereof and to said clutchupon operation thereof through the first of said recurring cycles tosuspend operation of said device and said member by said clutch duringsubsequent recurring cycles of operation thereof.

10. In a calculating machine having selection mechanism, a register,calculating mechanism operable to control said register, cyclicallyoperable motor drive means for said calculating mechanism,differentially settable control means comprising a part of saidcalculating mechanism for determining the number of cyclic operations ofthe motor drive means, a cyclic clutch for causing a plurality ofrecurring operations of said drive means during a plural ordercalculation, a device driven by said clutch and having a first phaseduring which it connects the differentially settable means to theselection mechanism to cause the latter to set the settable means and asecond phase during which it disconnects the settable means from theselection mechanism; the combination of, a manually depressible key forinitiating operation of the calculation mechanism including recurringcycles of operation of said clutch, with means controlled by said keyand responsive to said clutch upon operation thereof .through the firstof said recurring cycles for suspending operation of said device by saidclutch during subsequent recurring cycles of operation thereof.

HARRY F. NOLLER. GEORGE K. HURNI. KENNETH F. STONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number Certificate of Qorrection Patent No. 2,467,441. April 19, 1949.

HARRY F. NOLLER ET AL. It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows:

Column 16, line 8, claim 2, for cyclis read cyclic;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of crrection Patent No. 2,467,441. Apri1 19, 1949.

HARRY F. NOLLER ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationofthe above nlimbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 16, line 8, claim 2, for cyclis read cyclic; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

